Search the Dictionary

Casting vote, the decisive vote of a presiding officer, when the votes of the assembly or house are equally divided. "When there was an equal vote, the governor had the casting voice." B. Trumbull. -- Casting weight, a weight that turns a balance when exactly poised.

A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress. The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose. Coke. Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn. Shak.

A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise. Upon the rising of the curtain. I was very much surprised with the great consort of catcalls which was exhibited. Addison.

to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.

the inner side of the roof of; to furnish with a ceiling; as, to ceil a room. The greater house he ceiled with fir tree. 2 Chron. iii. 5

A small religious house attached to a monastery or convent. "Cells or dependent priories." Milman.

A summer cottage or country house in the Swiss mountains; any country house built in the style of the Swiss cottages.

A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom; as, the house had four chambers.

the day of coronation, and provides requisites for the palace of Westminster, and for the House of Lords during the session of Parliament. Under him are the gentleman of the black rod and other officers. His office is distinct from that of the lord chamberlain of the Household, whose functions relate to the royal house…

A public house; an alehouse. [Scot.] They call an alehouse a change. Burt.

In England, a place of worship used by dissenters from the Established Church; a meetinghouse.

A chapter house. [R.] Burrill.

Containing the bodies of the dead. "Charnel vaults." Milton. Charnel house, a tomb, vault, cemetery, or other place where the bones of the dead are deposited; originally, a place for the bones thrown up when digging new graves in old burial grounds.

A Carthusian monastery; esp. La Grande Chartreuse, mother house of the order, in the mountains near Grenoble, France.

A manor house or residence of the lord of the manor; a gentleman's country seat; also, particularly, a royal residence; as, the chateau of the Louvre; the chateau of the Luxembourg.

A list of servants in a household; -- called also chequer roll.

eties of rose derived from the Rosa Indica, and perhaps other species. (b) A flowering hothouse plant (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis) of the Mallow family, common in the gardens of China and the east Indies. -- China shop, a shop or store for the sale of China ware or of crockery. -- China ware, porcelain; -- so called in t…

age made by dissolving a portion of the paste or cake in boiling water or milk. Chocolate house, a house in which customers may be served with chocolate. -- Chocolate nut. See Cacao.

A small job; in the pl., the regular or daily light work of a household or farm, either within or without doors. [U. S.]

Travelling from house to house or from town to town; itinerant. [Obs.] "Circulatorious jugglers." Barrow.